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DEL.ICIO.USCollege football all figured out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
It’s Memorial Day weekend, and we’re all thinking … college football? Sure we are.
We are, after all, in the South, and the glossy preseason magazines, which used to arrive in July, are already dotting the newsstands. So really, what better time than Memorial Day to skip past summer and decide what will happen come the fall? What better time for our annual long-range look at the One True Sport?
• We start with Georgia Tech, which will start and end the regular season in fine style. The Jackets will beat Notre Dame on Sept. 2 and will beat Georgia — finally! — in Athens on Nov. 25. Being its schizo self, Tech will still manage to lose three games, including one it shouldn’t — Virginia and Maryland, which bracket the Jackets’ trip to Blacksburg, look particularly scary — and will finish second to Miami in the winnable Coastal Division.
• After a one-year cessation of BCS-inspired angst, full-throated howls will return when unbeaten West Virginia, scourge of the defoliated Big East, finishes unbeaten but is passed over for the Fiesta Bowl in lieu of once-beaten Auburn.
• Auburn will essentially win the SEC West on Sept. 16 when it beats LSU in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn’s loss will come against Georgia, which will dress up an ordinary (by Mark Richt’s lofty standards) season by winning in the epic series distinguished by its utter disdain for home-field advantage.
• Notre Dame will lose three regular-season games, one more than last season, and one or two Irish fans will wonder if extending Charlie Weis’ contract through 2015 might have been a stretch. (In 2015, Weis will be coaching guys who aren’t yet in junior high.)
• Ohio State will win the national championship. Auburn will put up a Fiesta fight but lose by a field goal. Crestfallen West Virginia will lose its no-consolation bowl game to Texas, which will be dealt out of the Fiesta picture by an early loss to the Buckeyes in Austin but will still beat Oklahoma and take the Big 12 title.
• Matthew Stafford won’t start against Western Kentucky on Sept. 2. After Georgia loses to South Carolina the next week, Stafford will be promoted to No. 1. He’ll beat Tennessee and Auburn but will lose to Florida and Tech. The Bulldogs will finish behind the Gators in the SEC East.
• Even so, Florida will enter its bowl game with four losses — two to Auburn (the second in the SEC championship game), one to Florida State and one to LSU. And the burning question — Is Urban Meyer the next Spurrier or the next Zooker? — will flame ever hotter.
• Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson will win the Heisman. Auburn’s Kenny Irons will finish third. Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn will finish fifth.
• For all the mileage the ACC got from its draft-day success, the expanded league will struggle to generate a single top 10 team. Clemson and Virginia Tech lost their quarterbacks. Miami fired half its coaching staff. Florida State is in clear decline.
• That said, the ACC championship game will be the one the ACC hopes to get every season — FSU against Miami. For no real reason, FSU will win.
• For the second year in a row, Miami and LSU will meet in the bowl formerly known as the Peach — it’s now just the Chick-fil-A, and really, what signifies Atlanta more than a chicken sandwich? — and the Hurricanes will well recall the Tigers’ two fake kicks at the end of last season’s 40-3 wipeout. LSU will again win the game but will lose the 10-minute fight that ignites at the coin toss.
• As a freshman, Reggie Ball was knocked out of the Georgia game in the first half. As a sophomore, he infamously lost track of downs. As a junior, he threw a killing interception in the Red Zone. As a senior, he’ll throw a fade that Calvin Johnson snatches for the winning touchdown with 10 seconds to play. That detailed enough for you?
Permalink | Comments (51) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
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By Trophead
May 27, 2006 01:28 AM | Link to this
As a Tech fan, I can confidently say that we will never beat UGA as long as Reggie Ball is our QB.
By Murph
May 27, 2006 04:33 AM | Link to this
Gotta agree with Trophead—Reggie Ball will find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, as always, against Georgia. And while I agree that Georgia is at risk of losing against South Carolina (the team is young, and that is the big early-season challenge), I don’t think that they will simply because the Gamecocks lost too much on the lines on both sides of the ball. Stafford won’t have to win that game; the Georgia defense will keep them in it, and the running game will keep the ‘Cocks at bay. By the end of the season, Stafford will be a veteran, and Tech (with Ball under center) won’t have a prayer.
By stevethehawk
May 27, 2006 04:39 AM | Link to this
Mark, Love your “predictions” in May. It gets me fired up, as, I’m sure, it gets the rest of the SEC and ACC world fired up for the Fall. Did any of y’all see the Gator wedding on ESPN2 Friday morning? I was surprised nobody was wearing jean shorts.
By David
May 27, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this
No way the Ticks beat the Dawgs this year. You can’t just “hope” it to happen, “hope” isn’t a plan and Tech hasn’t done anything significant in their roster or game plan to make this year any different (although getting rid of their lame AD has helped). Try prayer.
By MountainDawg
May 27, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this
Mark, your predictions sound right on track to me - except that Ga. Tech will not beat Georgia in Athens. Even in a relatively “down” year for the Dawgs, they still have too many athletes for Tech.
By swift
May 27, 2006 08:17 AM | Link to this
ever hear of a team called Alabama? it’s in the SEC. reporters covering auburn can tell you they know from private off the record conversations, at least a majority of Auburn players were rejected for scholarships by Alabama. auburn will lose twice as many games as Alabama.
By Milo
May 27, 2006 09:00 AM | Link to this
Swift, I bet that Sheila wished some of those offensive linemen, Stanley McClover… had not been rejected! My advice to you, Swift is to FEAR THE THUMB!!!
By reality check
May 27, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this
These predictions are totally accurate.
I see no reason to even play the games Mark mentioned. Save wear and tear on the equipment and cancel them I say.
By Milo
May 27, 2006 09:36 AM | Link to this
Swift, I bet that Sheila wished some of AU’s offensive linemen, Stanley McClover… had not been rejected! My advice to you, Swift is to FEAR THE THUMB!!!
By Trey
May 27, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this
Stafford’s gonna light Tech up!
By pitbull
May 27, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this
Mark, you have been smokng that whacky tobaccy again, haven’t you.
By hedduk
May 27, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this
My bookie is offering 3-1 that MB doesn’t get one prediction right.
By hedduk
May 27, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this
My bookie is offering 3-1 that MB doesn’t get one prediction right.
By Glenn
May 27, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this
Swift,
Auburns players were rejects of Alabama recruiting? I Guess that just proves that Auburn is reall just that much further ahead of the game when the “Alabama rejects” can completely over match the superstars that were supposed to be 4 years in a row. Funny that Auburn ,for at least the past 2 years, has domminated Alabama on in-state recruiting. Just look at the stats. Oh, Wait, do I hear 5 in a row and still undefeated in Tuscalooser-ville.
By Piper
May 27, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this
UGA is about .500 in Auburn over the last 25 years or so, yet they are what 2-11 in Athens. The Dogs need to grow up and stop bragging about the road team always wins. Auburn always wins in Athens, and they split when the Dogs come to Auburn.
By dave
May 27, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this
Alabama hasnt had a recruiting class better than Auburn in 5 years, so I dont know where you get that Swift. But I do know you can FEAR THE THUMB!
By northwestDawg
May 27, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this
Losing to the Reptiles is a real possibility. Thry do have a out of people coming back. Again, without saynig or knowing it, he confirmed it. The SC game is the bell ringer for ‘06. We’ll beat Tech. and by the Reptile game Stafford will have put in a lot of time under center.Beat SC and we have a good shot at having a 10-2 rebuilding year.
By dawson tiger
May 27, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this
predictions sound pretty accurate. im hopin and prayin that ur right about tech and ND. stafford is gonna have a tough time in auburn though, not sure how he’ll do.
By Truth hurts
May 27, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
Swift? You’re not so swift. In fact, you seem a little slow.
By Sooner Man
May 27, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Peterson will NOT win the Heisman is Oklahoma loses to Texas. If he does win the Heisman, they will be in the Big 12 Championship.
By Sooner Man
May 27, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Peterson will NOT win the Heisman if Oklahoma loses to Texas. If he does win the Heisman, they will be in the national title hunt.
By Bryan G.
May 27, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this
I predict that Terrance Moore will write 17 columns this college football season about the lack of black coaches, quarterbacks, ADs, etc.
I predict that even if UGA or Tech went undefeated, ESPN would never talk about them because they aren’t in Florida, California, Boston, New York, or aren’t coached by Charlie Weis.
By lordlumb
May 27, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this
What the Bama fan seems to forget or never see is the fact that while UA and AU have a similar staring lineup, it’s the second and third strings that make AU stronger.There is almost no falloff through the lineup.This is reminisant of past Bama teams and the tables have somewhat turned for now.It takes time guys for the real Bama of old to return but your season should be a fun one and I’m looking forward to all of you to have something to cheer about.See you guys in NOV,it’s always a great game and plenty of hospitality.
By lordlumb
May 27, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this
What the Bama fan seems to forget or never see is the fact that while UA and AU have a similar staring lineup, it’s the second and third strings that make AU stronger.There is almost no falloff through the lineup.This is reminisant of past Bama teams and the tables have somewhat turned for now.It takes time guys for the real Bama of old to return but your season should be a fun one and I’m looking forward to all of you to have something to cheer about.See you guys in NOV,it’s always a great game and plenty of hospitality.
By frank c.
May 27, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this
Now I know why bookies make so much money. No way Ga. Tech beats Notre Dame. Same odds as martians landing. Keep up with your homer selections.
By techaholic
May 27, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Fantasy is a wonderful thing but for GT’s football team under Chan Gailey … it means absolutely nothing.
REALITY is Chan is a less than a 2nd rate coach and Charlie Weis at ND will go into the “Hall of Fame”. Tech beating ND and Ugag in the same year IS FANTASY w/Chan and the gang!!!
How far will this program go backwards before those in charge has a ‘light go on’??
By techaholic
May 27, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this
Fantasy is a wonderful thing but for GT’s football team under Chan Gailey … it means absolutely nothing.
REALITY is Chan is a less than a 2nd rate coach and Charlie Weis at ND will go into the “Hall of Fame”. Tech beating ND and Ugag in the same year IS FANTASY w/Chan and the gang!!!
How far will this program go backwards before those in charge has a ‘light go on’??
By Death Lobster
May 27, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this
Auburn might not have a perfect season next year…rarely does anybody…but AU wont lose to Georgia. Auburn peaks that time of year.
By Brett
May 27, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this
Wow, what an idiot….Notre Dame hater much?
By bill
May 27, 2006 05:51 PM | Link to this
you r a biased moron
By WirelessBuzz
May 27, 2006 05:54 PM | Link to this
What great fans those Chan bashers like techaholic are. We get attacked by the Dogs here and then by our own “fans.” Very sad. Techaholic…lose the agenda and support the team you claim to be a fan of! For the record, I have been saying for months what Bradley has. Tech will shock the nation against ND with all the spotlight. We will then lose something we should not. But this year, we stop beating ourselves against UGA. And to MountainDog, I thought UGA had too many athletes for us last year and the year before and both came down to the wire with us severely hampering our chances. We are a better team this year but you still have the same caliber of athlete…what does that tell you?
By Irish Hater
May 27, 2006 06:18 PM | Link to this
As much as I dislike ND there is NO WAY that Tech will beat them. Nice Job trying to drum up some controversy I guess it worked.
Don’t get your hopes up Taliban Tech, it’s going to be another disappointing year. Good job haboring terrorists though!
By Sweat Dawg
May 27, 2006 06:51 PM | Link to this
Every year Ive got to read this geek saying that the nerds in the ATL will beat the dawgs. Still waiting.
By Gary
May 27, 2006 06:57 PM | Link to this
Bradley Just Jinkxed Our Season With His Predictions For Victory Over N.D. And Ga.. Also As Long As ” Cocky Reggie ” Is QB, Forget Beating Those 2 Teams, Also Gailey, Still The Biggest Mistake Since Bill Lewis, Is Still The Coach——Please Pros Offer Him A Job !!!!!!!!
By Jay
May 27, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this
Two Georgia/Tech tickets for sale. No reason to even show up. The “great and powerful Bradley” has spoken. Pay no attention to the lack of talent behind that Tech curtain.
By BirdDawg
May 27, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley’s sports “predictions” and “expertese” aren’t worth the 50 cents it costs to buy the fish wrapper they’re printed in.
Hey Mark, as long as Chan “The Man” is the head coach at Yech, that team will continue to be our whipping boys.
And I don’t care if its football or the other sports they always claim that they will beat us in (baseball, football, whatever), but never do.
Moron.
By AU Fan
May 27, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this
I would like to meet the person that really knows who the LSU Auburn, and UGA Auburn games are going to turn out. The team that usually wins those games are the ones that get a lucky bounce or two. The are usually evenly matched and always provide for exciting and stressful games. As far as us beating Bama for the 5th time in a row, well duh. Until Bama learns that “the Bear” is really dead and it is time to move on, they will always have a half-assed team that is filled with highly talented players. Can’t wait for the season to start!!!!!!!!
By Thatsa FAQ
May 27, 2006 08:10 PM | Link to this
I’m getting confused here, people!!
Mark says the Dames from Notre will lose three (3) games.
I just finished a column by another brilliant sportswriter that has Notre Dame going undefeated and playing Auburn in the BCS Game.
Who to believe?!…whom to believe?
Dammit! Now we have to watch all those games to see who is right! (Thank God!) :o)
…but I do hope the part about the Auburn Tiggers is right on.
By Bob
May 27, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this
Good predictions except for two. Dogs beat Tech and Clemson not FSU plays Miami in the ACC championship game.
By little ben
May 27, 2006 09:09 PM | Link to this
Mark…
You are absolutely insane. Tech beating Notre Dame and UGA in the same year is about as unlikely as Tech going on the road and beating Miami and Auburn in front of a National TV audience.
uh… wait a minute.
Good job with those picks, MB.
By Justin
May 27, 2006 09:49 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley is once again out of his mind. How anybody will listen to his foolishness is beyond me. First of all, he has AUBURN playing in the title game. Sure! And then the nonsense about Tech beating Georgia in Athens. Never underestimate a Mark Richt coached team. This team is loaded with the best recruits in the state ready fill the void left behind by the players who now playing on Sunday. 2005 was supposed to a down year also. And look what happened…SEC CHAMPS!
By socaldawg
May 27, 2006 10:20 PM | Link to this
Hate to burst the bubble some of my fellow dawg fans live in, but we haven’t exactly “owned” Yech in football. We’ve won, but they’ve been very close games that could have gone either way. I chalk that up to Tech playing up for the Dawgs and then playing at their real level the rest of the season.
FWIW, I’d love to see Tech beat ND.
My plan is to print Mark’s predictions and stick em on my wall and then send him a friendly little email each time one proves to be wrong.
By Irish Envy
May 27, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this
Congratulations on what has to be the most stupid prediction against Notre Dame since 0-6 Mark May and 1-6 Lee Corso. You now right up there with those clowns. It must make you feel important doing that. You’re really just tried to supress your Irish envy. Georgia Tech was stomped 57-7 by a mediocre Virgnia Tech team and Virginia 27-17. Ball is as consistent as gas prices. So he’s going to beat Notre Dame like that. 11 touchdowns and 12 inceptions although Tech as an All-American wide receiver. Last year notre Dame had 8 rookies defensive starters and your’re predicting they will lose more this season.
Notre Dame by at least 24.
By Irish Envy
May 27, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this
Congratulations on what has to be the most stupid prediction against Notre Dame since 0-6 Mark May and 1-6 Lee Corso. You now right up there with those clowns. It must make you feel important doing that. You’re really just tried to supress your Irish envy. Georgia Tech was stomped 57-7 by a mediocre Virgnia Tech team and Virginia 27-17. Ball is as consistent as gas prices. So he’s going to beat Notre Dame like that. 11 touchdowns and 12 inceptions although Tech as an All-American wide receiver. Last year notre Dame had 8 rookies defensive starters and you’re predicting they will lose more this season.
Notre Dame by at least 24.
By Davis
May 28, 2006 12:45 AM | Link to this
auburn has gotten alot of attention on this board. the certainty of the sec is that LSU has the best team on paper returning. Can auburn beat them the 3rd game of the season? yes, playing them in auburn will definitely help… they have the linemen, the secondary, and the qb and running backs to be one of the best teams in the country… but talent does not win championships… but chemistry and health does. last years auburn team was a young one, and probably should have won yet another sec title… but youth hurt that. I take nothing away from UGA, but they played the right teams at the right time. the bottom lines is that the SEC is always competetive and there is no telling who will emerge as the top. but auburn is certainly contender, along with LSU who might have the most talent, but I will say that having Georgia at home, florida and lsu in auburn, will give AU a slight upper hand, just because of the schedule… it will be a great year, and alot of fun, but please lets stick to the basics, dont be rude, the last 5 years have been based on auburn, lsu, and UGA for the sec, so there is obvious reason why these teams are considered the best
By Davis
May 28, 2006 12:47 AM | Link to this
auburn has gotten alot of attention on this board. the certainty of the sec is that LSU has the best team on paper returning. Can auburn beat them the 3rd game of the season? yes, playing them in auburn will definitely help… they have the linemen, the secondary, and the qb and running backs to be one of the best teams in the country… but talent does not win championships… but chemistry and health does. last years auburn team was a young one, and probably should have won yet another sec title… but youth hurt that. I take nothing away from UGA, but they played the right teams at the right time. the bottom lines is that the SEC is always competetive and there is no telling who will emerge as the top. but auburn is certainly contender, along with LSU who might have the most talent, but I will say that having Georgia at home, florida and lsu in auburn, will give AU a slight upper hand, just because of the schedule… it will be a great year, and alot of fun, but please lets stick to the basics, dont be rude, the last 5 years have been based on auburn, lsu, and UGA for the sec, so there is obvious reason why these teams are considered the best
By Davis
May 28, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this
auburn has gotten alot of attention on this board. the certainty of the sec is that LSU has the best team on paper returning. Can auburn beat them the 3rd game of the season? yes, playing them in auburn will definitely help… they have the linemen, the secondary, and the qb and running backs to be one of the best teams in the country… but talent does not win championships… but chemistry and health does. last years auburn team was a young one, and probably should have won yet another sec title… but youth hurt that. I take nothing away from UGA, but they played the right teams at the right time. the bottom lines is that the SEC is always competetive and there is no telling who will emerge as the top. but auburn is certainly contender, along with LSU who might have the most talent, but I will say that having Georgia at home, florida and lsu in auburn, will give AU a slight upper hand, just because of the schedule… it will be a great year, and alot of fun, but please lets stick to the basics, dont be rude, the last 5 years have been based on auburn, lsu, and UGA for the sec, so there is obvious reason why these teams are considered the best
By Go back to Alabama
May 28, 2006 01:56 AM | Link to this
Talking about UGA being at the right place at the right time? How about that blue bird that showed up on Auburn’s shoulder on 4th and forever? Not just the pass, but the ball not bouncing out of the end zone?
I just saw a new State of GA specialty tag with Auburn’s ensignia on it, and I almost puked out my window while I was driving home the other night. Who is the moron who allowed this tag??? Its funny, every Auburn grad I run into always talks about how great Auburn is, or how proud of being from Alabama they are, and this and that….but they’re all here in Atlanta working….How Ironic?!? Probably because the only jobs there are are repairing Mustangs and figuring out ways how to keep white folks in power.
By Go back to Alabama
May 28, 2006 02:08 AM | Link to this
One more quick thought…There will never be a state of Alabama specialty tag for UGA, because nobody who goes to UGA moves to Alabama. There’s no reason to, there’s nothing there…no jobs, not a good place to live.
By Paper Nerd
May 28, 2006 02:14 AM | Link to this
Mark, you demented dreamer. I’ll take wins over ND and UGA. Where do I sign up?
By Lee
May 28, 2006 03:20 AM | Link to this
Are you kidding me??? This has to be the most outlandish, dumbest thing I’ve heard in my life…. Tech returns no defense, and Reggie Ball is one of the worst quarterbacks in the country…here’s a prediction for you Mark Bradley, the Jackets will be lucky to win 7 games, but more than likely go 6-5 and play in another insignificant bowl on the west coast. Chan Gailey is a horrible football coach and Mark Richt owns Georgia Tech..Tech loses a bowl game and ends the season at 6-6, Georgia wins 10 games again next year, and the world keeps on spinning